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Location notes

On the ECML, this level crossing is approximately 8 miles south of Peterborough and is just over a mile south of Holme level crossing. The nearest city is Peterborough, however there are several villages in the area.

Railway type and traffic

Being on the main line between Peterborough and London King's Cross, traffic is plentiful yet standardised.Expect to see East Coast HSTs, 225 sets; First Capital Connect services are operated by a mixture of Class 317 and Class 365 units. The odd daytime freight working also passes through here, including the Biggleswade Plasmor flow.

Environment

The location is at the start of a small farm road and is on the edge of open fields. A minor road does lie quite close to the crossing and traffic is light; in terms of the crossing itself, traffic is very light, with the occasional car and lorry heading down to the farm.

Road directions

From the NorthExit the A1(M) at junction 15 (Sawtry) to gain access to the B1043. Head north and then turn right at Conington (probably signposted). Go through the village and then turn right. Now simply stay on this road until you get to the level crossing.

From the SouthExit the A1(M) at Sawtry and then at the roundabout, take the third exit. Stay on this road until you get to a roundabout in the village and then take the third exit - this will lead you over the A1(M) and up to a roundabout. Now take the first exit to access the B1043 and then head north. Turn right at Conington (probably signposted), go through the village and then turn right. Now simply stay on this road until you get to the level crossing.

Heading from Ramsey St Mary (on the B660), go over Holme level crossing and take the first left (signposted 'Conington'). A bit further down this road, take the first left and you will be on a narrow road which will sweep around and bring you parallel to the railway. Go to the end of this road and then take the left turn.

There is a small area in which to park, however this is in the entrance to a maintenance access area. Therefore, if maintenance workers turn up, you should be prepared to move your car, perhaps to the other side of the crossing. The parking bit is very close to the crossing.

Public transport

Bus routes 352 (Peterborough - Conington) and 415 (Wood Walton - Peterborough) both operate through Holme, so it would be feasible to get off there and walk to the crossing but it would be quite a hike if you have a lot of equipment to carry.

Unfortunately there are no facilities in the area itself. There are a couple of chip shops in Yaxley (about 3 miles away) and there is also a Little Chef in Sawtry (4 miles away). Most amenities will, of course, be in Peterborough which is within easy travelling distance for lunch and supplies.

Accommodation

There are a couple of hotels in nearby Stilton, with a Holiday Inn at Norman Cross.

Sun Compass

Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Conington North Level Crossing

Being a level crossing there are options for views of either the up close and personal or of the side on three quater views available from this location.

CONINGTON SIDE:Looking in the up direction, visibility is obscured by a shed, however a telephoto lens could possibly produce reasonable shots. In the down direction, visibility is much better, with the OLE nicely out of the way. Good shots are possibly looking north from the crossing itself, and there is also a small bridge beside where you might have parked your car that produces good opportunities.

RAMSAY ST MARY SIDE:Again, the up direction isn't too fruitful, however it is possible to go up to the fence beside the crossing and get some reasonable shots of the trains.Looking in the down direction, some good shots are possible however you must be ready as the trains (the GNERs especially) suddenly appear from behind the trees thus leaving little time to release the shutter.

One crucial point is that the crossing utilises full width barriers, thus meaning that you must be sure of where you want to take your photos; you could potentially get stuck on one side and should you want to take up and down trains from different sides of the crossing, then you can't.As the line runs North-South, the sun is not a major problem, but it is worth visiting the crossing to familiarise yourself with which side of the crossing you prefer.

Taken at about 7am, featuring a diverted freight on the slow line.You need stepladders, and place them in the middle of the road right next to the lowered barrier (on the east side of the crossing) - but you get plenty of warning of approaching trains since the crossing is not automatic.

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